by Wendell Cox (NAPSA)—Throughout the country, commuters are spending more and more time in their cars fighting traffic. Proposed solutions to the problem, such as building new roads, are expensive and politically contentious. Thereis, however, another solution— freight rail. By shifting 25 percent of freight from road to rail over the next 20 years, we can take many trucks out of traffic and save commuters hours, even weeks, each year in commute time. Conversely, if we transferred freight from the rail to trucks, we would have the reverse effect. In an urban area like Phoenix, shifting 25 percent of freight from trucks and putting it on freight trains could decrease drivers’ commutes by 86 hours a year by 2020. That means commuters could have the equivalent of two full workweeksof personal and family time. In addition, such a shift could save $1,127 in annual commuting costs. Large trucks transporting consumer goods contribute to the increase in traffic delays. One large truck takes up the same amount of highway space as almost four cars. What’s more, the average truck is becoming longer with an increased use of double and triple trailers. According to the Federal Highway Administration, truck volumes are expected to double over the next 20 years. With little chance of increasing urban road capacity sufficiently, an increase in truck volume will continue to add to our commuting problems. The situation is already considered alarming. From 1990 to 2000, traffic delays for commuters increased 70 percent in major urban areas. Over that time, drivers lost 23 hours, nearly four full workdays, in traffic on their way to work. U.S. Census population projections and Federal Highway Administration traffic volume projections suggest that traffic will increase nearly 50 percent in the next 20 years, increasing traffie delays. Freight rail can help. One freight train can carry the equivalent of 500 trucks and one intermodal train can carry 280 containers, or truck trailers. Trucking companies and therailroads are already forming partnerships that enable the trucking industry to take advantageof the efficiency of railroads. Shifting freight from road to rail has a positive environmental impact. Freight rail is more fuel efficient per ton-mile that trucks and reduces fuel consumption of other motorists by decreasing the time drivers spend idling in traffie. For example, Chicago could save 189 gallons of fuel per capita each year by 2020 with a 25 percent shift of freight from truck to rail. Air pollution, which is already decreasing, would decrease even more with an increased use of freight rail. For example, shifting 25 percent of freight to rail would decrease air pollutant emissions in Philadelphia by as much as 24,700 tons each year. Those pollutants include nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds. This reduction in emissions allows communities like Philadelphia to achieve national air quality standards. Sixty-three percent of Americans strongly favor using rail to ship freight long distances. The nation can expand the use of freight rail if Washington plays its part by providing tax incentives for investment in railroad infrastructure and intermodal transportation. These policy changes will enable freight railroads to continue to provide convenient, on-time, quality service to shippers and boost their share of freight transport. It is hard to imagine a less costly strategy for reducing future traffic congestion. Wendell Cox has studied traffie and gridlock issues for more than 25 years. He is currently president and CEO of Demographia, a market research and urban policy consultancy.
